Wednesday was a lot of last-minute prep- running to Trader Joe's, putting the finishing touches on packing, hugging my siblings good-bye one by one, and waiting for Mom and Dad to come home to take me to the airport. I got emotional, I admit. It's daunting and sad to think that I won't be able to be home, or even in the same country, as my family for three entire months. My idea is that if I don't think about it as much as possible, it won't get in my way or affect me too much. Either way, I miss them like crazy already.
My first flight was to Seattle, where I met, by chance, a man who's lived 10 years in England and is Irish, originally. He gave me some pointers on football games, though I'm sorry to say that I don't think I'll have time to get to a football game while I'm here, nor do I actually remember his advice specifically besides "go to a game." He also told me my shoes were going to be worn out quickly. Not in general- the ones I was wearing. So, I suppose I have that to look forward to.
The flight itself, and waiting in the Seattle airport, were both fairly uneventful, besides my rising anticipation and anxiety. I love the Seattle airport- it's one of the best in the country and/or world, in my opinion. However, I was eager to get going, and it was a longer layover for me than i would have liked. Plus, I was starting to get nervous about the border control. Would I have the right paperwork for a student visa? What if I was missing something? What if I got held up there? And, even worse, what if I fit the stereotype of a stupid American? Also, low-key, what if I didn't get on the flight? I do fly standby, after all.
Well, I did get on the flight, and I did make it past border control, and I'm pretty sure I fit at least a few American stereotypes, though I'm doing my best.
While in the air, I finally watched "The Imitation Game," by the way, and decided it deserved a score of 9.5/10. Intelligent, meaningful, important, and full of talent. Also, I love Benedict Cumberbatch.
Anyways, I woke up just as we were about to fly over Ireland. By the time we were over England, my first view of the country was strangely both exactly what I expected, and at the same time, completely shocking. I mean, there it was- lush, green, fairly industrial, very European houses, and cars driving on opposite sides of the road- all just how I knew it would look like, from my general knowledge and the TV and films I've seen. What was shocking is that it's REAL. This was it- the place I've been dreaming of going to for forever now and where I'd always wanted to be and explore. Here it really was as a very real and functional modern city that exists and not just in stories or my imagination or film and theatre. I got off the plane, and the border control and customs people spoke in British accents, and I got into a lift (not an elevator) to get me to the baggage claim afterwards. I got my international SIM card for my phone (so limited calls and texts are allowed, though I'd still prefer Whatsapp and Facebook, please) as well as a train ticket for the Heathrow Express, and I was told to "mind the gap" a couple of times. The train was just as efficient and fast as the trains in Germany, which I love. The Underground signs are everywhere, I rode in a cab to the hotel because it was too close to take the Underground and it looked JUST like the cabs do in "Sherlock," and are called cabbies and everything. And we were on the opposite side of the road, which, makes perfect sense but is paradoxically still really difficult to wrap my mind around completely.
By this time on my journey, I was dazed and confused. My excitement turned into a lot of being overwhelmed at the realness of it all and how just-right-yet-still-too-slightly-off-to-be-normal everything was. So I bumbled around checking into the hotel room and as soon as I got up with my bags I practically collapsed for a few hours. I didn't sleep, but chilled until I could work up the energy and courage to go exploring a bit.
I wish I wasn't so timid getting around the hotel and city, but honestly, I'm so jumpy and paranoid that I'm going to do something really offensive or rude or stupid or horribly American and get myself in a load of trouble. My first adventure was merely a walk down the street (looking about 4 times across the streets and moving with other pedestrians before crossing) to the grocery store I had read the name of in one of my pamphlets to explore and get some water. Needed coins, anyways. I'm not used to the coins yet and I'm not sure which coins mean what- 1 pound, 2 pounds, shillings, pence, whatchamacallems... This will take a bit.
After going back to the hotel for a bit and thinking my adventures were over, I came across a map that told me the "Marble Arch" this nearby street is named for was actually a very quick walk away. It seemed like something to see, so I ventured out again. On the way, I found some familiar city sites, like homeless people and hole-in-the-wall restaurants, good places to get coffee, a movie theater, the general location of the West End and Oxford Circus, Hyde Park, and then the Marble Arch I'd been looking for.
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| I feel like a tourist... Ugh. Also, new glasses!!! |
Here's another reason I'm so timid and jumpy: I don't know how anything works. Upon getting back to the hotel, I realized I don't even know how restaurants work in the UK. Do you seat yourself? Do you wait? What's the normal price for food? Also, it took me 5 minutes and an accidental pull on the emergency phone cord to operate the shower in my room. Whoops.
I know I shouldn't care what random Londoners think of me- I'm getting used to the city and I have stuff and a self to navigate, and clumsily so, before I'm settled. But there's a big part of me that doesn't want to be seen as yet another tourist. I'd rather blend in, or at least be seen more as the traveler and student I'm here to actually be. I suppose that'll have to come in time, but it's still unnerving to me that I got used to Germany way quicker than this. Maybe I have this idea that Londoners are ruder than Germans? I don't know. At least they speak English.
I guess this is what culture shock feels like. We'll see how tomorrow goes. Fight on, friends.
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